How to make a Caramel Text Effect in Photoshop

In this tutorial i will explain to you my methods of creating a caramel text in Photoshop.

In the image below you can see the final result that we want to achive. It is going to be a 3 step tutorial.In the first step we are going to create the background for the caramel text.In the second step we will work on the text,and create a caramel believable look.In step 3 we are going to explain how to create the finishing touches to make the caramel text look great.

Make sure you visit other Photoshop and Illustrator Tutorial posts such as:

In the image below you can see the final result of this tutorial.So lets get started.

STEP 1 – Creating the background for the caramel text

Create a new document in Photoshop.Set its width to 1920px and its height to 1080px.Set the resolution to 300px and the color mode to be RGB.Then click OK.

1A – Press Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new layer and name it Black.Set the foreground color to 292929 and press Alt + Delete to fill the background with black color.

1B – Press Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new layer and name it Brown.Click on the Foreground color button to pick a color.Make sure you chose 996933.Press the G key on your keyboard to activate the Gradient tool.When you open the gradient editor make sure that you have selected the color to transparent preset,and also make sure that you have selected a Radial Gradient.Position the gradient to be on the center and draw a gradient from the top to the bottom of the canvas.

1C – Press Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new layer and name it Light Brown.Click on the Foreground color button to pick a color.Make sure you chose daba97.Press the G key on your keyboard to activate the Gradient tool.When you open the gradient editor make sure that you have selected the color to transparent preset,and also make sure that you have selected a Radial Gradient.Position the gradient to be on the center and draw a gradient that will affect the area shown in the image bellow.Just so you know,in order to create the gradient as it is shown in the image bellow,the beginning of your gradient will be in the top but outside of the canvas. Now set the Opacity of the Light Brown layer to be 64%.

The creation of the background its not a fun process,but you have to understand that is neccessary.It is needed because it gives the caramel text a nice look.With this we complete STEP 1.We have created the background for the caramel text and now we start creating the caramel look of the text.

STEP 2 – Add Shadow, Gradient Overlay and Bevel & Emboss to the text

2A – Now you have to type the text Caramel.The text starts with a capital C and the rest of the letters are small.For this particular tutorial we will use the Channel Font.If you don’t have it on your computer you can find it on the internet,its a free font.Set the font size to 46.73 pt, and set the color of the text to this color( b5710f ). To finish this step, all you have to do is center it to the document.You can see the result in the image below.

2B – Lets add a Drop Shadow to the Caramel Text.Set the Blending Mode to Multiply, Opacity at 75%, Angle at 131°, Distance at 5px, Size at 8px.

2C – Activate the Gradient Overlay. Set the Blending Mode to Multiply, Opacity at 36%, Gradient from Black to White, Style is Linear, Angle is 90° and Scale is 150%.

2D – Activate Bevel & Emboss.In the Structure section set this parameters: Style is set to Inner Bevel, Technique to Smooth, Depth 100%, Direction Up, Size 5px, Soften 16px. In the Shading section set this parameters: Angle 131°, Altitude 45°, Gloss Contour as it is shown in the image 2D, Highlight Mode set to Screen with color to fbcf90 , Opacity for the Highlight Mode set to 75%, Shadow Mode set to Multiply with color set to Black, and Opacity for the Shadow mode set to 75%.

2E – Under the bevel & Emboss you can see the Contour.Activate it and set the Contour to be as in the image 2E, Range set to 63%.After that click OK and you are all done.

In the image below you can see what we get after we complete STEP 2.

STEP 3 – Make adjustments to the Caramel Text 2

First thing what we are going to do in STEP 3 is to Duplicate the Caramel Text.Rename it to Caramel Text 2.Set the Caramel Text 2 above Caramel Text.Set the Blending mode of the Caramel Text 2 to Multiply, and change the Opacity to 41%.Make sure that you have selected the new Caramel Text 2 layer.You can activate the Drop Shadow by clicking on the layer styles button and choosing Drop Shadow, or you can go to Layer -> Layer Style -> and chose the Drop Shadow.

3A – With the Drop Shadow Option selected, set the Blending Mode to Multiply, Opacity to 75%, Angle to 131°, make sure to check on the “Use Global Lighting”, Distance set to 13px, Spread 0px, Size 18px.

3B – Now activate the Gradient Overlay. Set the Blending Mode to Multiply, Opacity to 16%, Gradient from Black to White, Style set to Linear, Angle to 90°, Scale to 150%.

3C – Activate the Bevel & Emboss. In the Structure section set this parameters: Style is set to Inner Bevel, Technique to Smooth, Depth 72%, Direction Up, Size 13px, Soften 4px. In the Shading section set this parameters: Angle 131°, Altitude 45°, Gloss Contour as it is shown in the image 3C, Highlight Mode set to Screen with color to fdf7ee , Opacity for the Highlight Mode set to 67%, Shadow Mode set to Multiply with color set to Black, and Opacity for the Shadow mode set to 75%.

3D – Right under the Bevel & Emboss you can see the Contour Option.Activate it and leave it as it is.Since this layer is a Duplicate of Caramel Text layer, the Contour Option will be the same as the one in the Caramel Text. Click Ok and you are done.

This is what you get after you complete STEP 3.

STEP 4 – Adding the Gloss on the Caramel Text

Duplicate the Caramel Text 2 Layer.Rename the new layer in to Gloss.Set it to be on top of Caramel Text 2 layer.Bring his Opacity to 41%.Now go to Layer -> Layer Style -> and chose Bevel & Emboss. The Gradient Overlay,Drop Shadow and Contour (right under Bevel & Emboss) will stay exactly the same as in Caramel Text 2.And since we have made a duplicate from Caramel Text 2 we wont need to change the Drop Shadow, Gradient Overlay and Contour (right under Bevel & Emboss). The only thing we are going to change to the Gloss layer is the Bevel & Emboss.

4A – Activate the Bevel & Emboss. In the Structure section set this parameters: Style is set to Inner Bevel, Technique to Smooth, Depth 1000%, Direction Up, Size 16px, Soften 0px. In the Shading section set this parameters: Angle 131°, Altitude 45°, Gloss Contour as it is shown in the image 3C, Highlight Mode set to Normal with color to White(ffffff) , Opacity for the Highlight Mode set to 100%, Shadow Mode set to Multiply with color set to Black, and Opacity for the Shadow mode set to 0%.

With this we complete STEP 4. In the image below we can see the result we get after we complete STEP 4.

STEP 5 – Adding the final effects to the text

In STEP 5 we are going to add some effects to the text so it will make the Caramel text more believable.

5A – Select the Caramel Text 2 and Duplicate it.Rename the new layer in to Dark. Make sure that you have the Dark layer selected and move it so it will be in between Caramel Text and Caramel text 2. Hover over the Dark layer, right click and chose Convert to Smart Object. With the Dark layer still selected go to Layer -> Layer Mask -> Reveal All. Select the mask and then press the G key to activate the gradient tool, and make sure you have linear gradient selected. When you have the mask selected the foreground color automatically switches to Black,but if its not,make sure that foreground color is set to Black. Drag a gradient from the bottom of letter A to the top of the letter A ( There are 2 A letters in the scene.But since this is a linear gradient it wont matter on which you do the gradient ).This results in darkening the top parts of all letters and leaving the bottom areas more bright. You can see the result better in the image bellow.

Step 5B will be all about the reflection on the bottom of the text.

5B – Press Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new layer.Name it Bottom Reflection. Make sure that the layer is on top of all other layers.Activate the the P key to activate the Pen tool.Draw a shape as it is shown in the image bellow. Now press the A key to activate the Path Selection Tool and click on the path you have created to select it.When the path is selected press Ctrl + Enter to load the path as a selection. Pick this color 8d827b and press Alt + Delete to fill the shape layer.Now set the Opacity of the Bottom reflection layer to 57% and you are done.

The result after you complete STEP 5B can be seen in the image bellow.

STEP 5C will be the final step in the completion of this tutorial and its all about adding a final highlight to the reflectivity at the bottom.

STEP 5C – First thing you do is to create a new layer and name it Bottom Highlight.Place the layer to be on top of Bottom Reflection layer.Select a small Soft brush and make couple of strokes as it is shown in the image below.Th color should be D4C8B8.

Final Result – Caramel text effect photoshop tutorial

After you complete all the STEP’s, this is what you will get.The result can be seen in the image bellow.

I do hope you have liked the tutorial. Plz comment or gives a hint of what you liked at best or would like to see on the site.